Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
“The top of that fort belongs to the Order. The residence she’s been staying in is its own tiny principality.” It wasn’t exactly free from Malta’s government, but he would use any loops he could get through. Levi wouldn’t be able to storm that particular castle easily. “I’ll try to get her to Rob and get away by boat but if we can’t, the fort is our last extraction point. Do you see another way?”
Theo huffed. “No. Let’s hope we’re about to scare the fuck out of her and all this is for nothing.”
It wouldn’t be. He was going to have to completely upend her life because even if that wasn’t Levi in her store right now, he would be there soon. He was coming for Kim. “You take the back. I’ll go in the front.”
He picked up his own gun and slid it into the holster at the small of his back, covering it with his T-shirt. He had to hope they could make it to the wharf without gunfire. He was counting on the fact that Levi didn’t want a scene either. Otherwise he would have brought the police with him.
He was still trying to do this under the radar. He didn’t want anyone to know he had her. Beck could use that to his advantage. Levi would come in with a smaller team than usual.
Theo followed him down the stairs. He got to the ground level in time to see Anna jogging down the street toward where her car was parked.
Good. Now they needed to hope Levi was in there alone.
Theo motioned to the back of the building and then made his way around to the alley that would lead to the rear entrance.
“I’m here.” Tucker ran up the narrow, cobblestone street and leaned over, taking a deep breath. “Sorry. I don’t run as much anymore. Rob’s right. I’m soft.”
He was glad to have Tucker around. He might not be the fastest runner, but if anyone got hurt, he wouldn’t want anyone except Tucker to put his men back together.
Except Ezra.
He shook off the thought of his brother. It was only the week that was making him think of the brother he’d lost. That and the fact that he was surrounded by men who’d treated him like a brother. He prayed if any of these men ever got in trouble, they could come to him because he would not let them down.
“Theo’s taking the back,” he said quietly as they approached the front door of the small shop. The glass door was propped open and a man and a woman stepped out holding hands and talking about where they could get coffee. They ran down the street as the rain started in earnest. “I don’t know how many we’re dealing with.”
“Unless someone else came in after that couple left, it’s the worker, a couple, two young women, Trench Coat, who might be the evil overlord of our lives, and one other man.”
Tucker was also incredibly observant. Beck touched the device in his ear. “Anna left while you were on your way. There goes the couple and the two women. So it’s two men. Theo, do you copy?”
“I do.” Theo’s voice was steady over the line. “There’s a van parked here, and I’ve taken out the driver. It’s obvious to me they intended to smuggle her out the back. I believe this was a three-man job. I’ll see you inside.”
He trusted Theo’s instincts. His gut knotted but he needed to go cold. Kim didn’t need him to run in screaming her name.
And there was a reason they called her Solo. She was a deadly operative in her own right. Kim wouldn’t panic. She would go to that place where there was nothing but the fight.
The rain had started to come down pretty hard and he moved under the awning.
There was no one in the front of the store. A laptop lay next to the cash register, but there was no gorgeous blonde standing there.
He stepped inside and pulled his gun, Tucker moving in beside him.
He gestured for Tucker to take the left and he would take the right.
As silently as he could, he started to move across the floor. It was a nightmare, a freaking labyrinth of bookshelves. He couldn’t get a clean line of sight to save his life, but at least he was certain Theo would be making his way from the back.
“Hello, Solo. Long time no see.”
He stopped at the sound of those words. Levi. He would know that fucking voice anywhere. Where was she? He could barely hear Levi talking, and the sound seemed to bounce around off the shelves.
He waited for the sound of Kim laughing and spitting some serious bile. She didn’t get afraid. She might save them all the trouble and kill the fucker right here. Then he would help her clean up the body and beg her to let him stay with her. He could help run a bookshop.